What is studying the Bible? Reading it? Yes, but we read lots of things for a variety of reasons. We read the newspaper differently than we read a novel or poetry or history. How, then, do we read the Bible so that we are studying it?
There is one important attitude and one important action before we even open the Bible. The important attitude is humility. Humility means we are aware of our assumptions. Don’t assume you already know what the Bible says. Likewise, don’t run from it assuming you can’t or won’t understand it. Approach the Bible with humility.
The important action is prayer. Pray that God’s Spirit will help you understand his words. In 1 Corinthians 2:12 Paul says that God’s Spirit will help us understand what God has given us, and the Scriptures are one thing that he has given us. Then expect God to speak through the Scriptures.
After praying, begin reading it with a meditative approach. In Psalm 1 we read that we are to delight in the Bible, meditating on it day and night. That meditation means to think deeply about it.
One way to meditate on the Scriptures is to slowly observe what you’re reading, asking questions about what you’re reading. Maybe write those questions down.
Next, seek answers to those questions. This might require using a study Bible or commentary. It might help cross-referencing with other portions of Scripture.
Finally, discern a principle that you can apply to your life, and begin to apply that principle to your life. Or as you read and think, consider if there is something new you learn about God.
Those are some important steps to studying the Bible. But we’re still missing something important about studying the Bible. To reveal what we’re missing, I want to ask you, when do you study the Bible?
Maybe first thing in the morning. I like to use the Lectio 365 app in the morning before I work out. Might be over lunch break. Perhaps in the evening? Growing up my family had devotions together after dinner. Maybe when you’re driving in your car, doing chores or exercising, you listen to a devotional, sermon or teaching on TV, online, on a podcast, on the radio. Might be reading a book about the Bible or biblical teaching. Hopefully, you read the Bible during worship services, and the sermon involves studying the Bible, with the person preaching serving as a guide.
We study the Bible in Sunday School classes, and in small groups of various kinds. Our care groups, Bible study groups, prayer meeting.
There are so many ways to answer the question “When do you study the Bible?” I’ve described all sorts of Bible study opportunities, and all of them fall into one of two categories: Personal and Communal.
Personal Bible study is when we study the Bible individually, by ourselves.
Communal Bible study is when we study the Bible together with others.
Throughout the 2000 years of Christian history, of those two, which do you think was the predominant form of Bible study. Personal or communal?
We’ll find out in the next post.
Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash
Engaging Scripture 